8 November 2019 | Rob Portman United Staes Senator for Ohio |

“The focus of their discussion was on the current Wing mission, potential for upgrades to the C-130 fleet and future vision of the aerial spray mission.”

YOUNGSTOWN, OH – Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) met with the Youngstown Air Force Reserve Station (YARS) Commander Colonel Joseph Janik, members of the Wing Command and representatives from the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission to discuss the importance of YARS to the Youngstown community and to our country. The focus of their discussion was on the current Wing mission, potential for upgrades to the C-130 fleet and future vision of the aerial spray mission.

“Today, I appreciated the productive visit with Commander Janik to receive a current mission brief and discuss the potential for C-130 upgrades as well as the future vision of the aerial spray mission,” said Portman. “I also had the opportunity to go out and see the site where construction will soon begin on a new entry control gate for the base which will be built by funds I secured in the FY 2019 NDAA. YARS, as the third largest employer in Mahoning Valley, has had a significant economic impact on the region, deployed its resources to those in need across the globe, and defended the values we hold dearest as Americans.” 

Portman has consistently fought for YARS, which employs more than 1,800 people, to ensure it has the resources it needs to perform its mission.

In 2018, Portman announced that the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act includes $8.8 million to relocate the main gate at YARS to improve security and the flow of people and cargo on and off this busy facility.  In 2016, the president signed-into-law Portman’s legislation requiring the Air Force to prioritize C-130 upgrades for YARS, an upgrade that would strengthen its mission capabilities. Portman has been urging the Air Force to replace YARS’ 910th Airlift Wing’s current fleet of C-130H aircraft with new C-130J aircraft to ensure that the 910th’s Department of Defense (DoD)-mandated specialized aerial spray mission continues safely and without interruption. Portman, who has consistently used his position as a member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to advocate on behalf of YARS and its Airmen, will continue fighting to ensure that YARS has the leading edge capabilities needed to carry out their critically important national and homeland security missions. In 2015, Portman secured the $9.4 million in funding to upgrade the base’s indoor firing range facility.

Photos from the meeting are below: